Author: Sharon Lindbloom
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Progression to Godhood — Mormonism’s God
The following quotes are from the LDS Church’s Achieving a Celestial Marriage Student Manual published by the Church Educational System, copyright 1976. — In the relationships of husband and wife and parent and child we begin to approach the divine calling of godhood. Our Heavenly Father and mother live in an exalted state because they…
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The Main Claim of Mormonism
Lee Benson at Mormon Times wrote about the “big image problem” Mormons are plagued with. According to LDS researcher Gary Lawrence, “We’re not as popular as we think we are.” Though Americans are very aware of the LDS Church (84 percent have been exposed to missionaries, members and/or Mormons in the media), people don’t really…
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Do We Need to Become Children of God?
He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name,he gave the right to become children of God, who were born,not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man,but of God. –John 1:12-13 Brigham…
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Remember the Victims
Thirty years ago (on November 18, 1978) over 900 people died in Guyana, South America, victims of spiritual deception. Living in Jonestown under the care of self-proclaimed prophet Jim Jones, many of these people died willingly, drinking poisoned punch in obedience to a directive given them by their prophet. Some of the victims may not…
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Joseph Smith’s Genesis 50 Additions
I’ve recently completed a 2-year study of the Old Testament book of Genesis. What a rich, sacred history God has given us in the opening pages of His Word. Though the book is a mere 50 chapters, it’s so packed with amazing events, prophesies and wisdom I could easily spend many more years in a…
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Testimony Against Joseph Smith
Yesterday the Joseph Smith Web Site’s daily history column, “On This Day…” noted: November 13, 1838 Richmond, Missouri. Over 40 witnesses appeared at court and bore false witness against the Prophet. Just before I saw that LDS history note, I had been reading some of these same testimonies that I came across in The Missouri…
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“Mormon victims of the Holocaust”
The LDS Church is in trouble – again – with the Jewish community over the Church’s continuing posthumous baptisms of Jewish Holocaust victims. (See here and here for background on the 13 year struggle regarding this issue.) Monday (November 10, 2008) marked the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Nazi-incited riots against the Jews, considered to…
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You Can’t Always Believe What You Read in the Newspaper
The 100-year-old daily newspaper, the Manteca Bulletin (Manteca, CA), carried an article on October 29, 2008 written by managing editor Dennis Wyatt. The article was mainly about the way Mormons were being mistreated over their unflagging support of California’s Prop 8. To fill out the story, Mr. Wyatt wrote, “The Mormons are historically the most…
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How would John Taylor vote in tomorrow’s election?
Last Friday, in honor of John Taylor’s 200th birthday, Mormon Coffee published several quotes from Mormonism’s 3rd prophet and president. Today, the day before an important and historic election in America, we offer more, with a question. To set the greater context for understanding President Taylor’s comments, the first quote below is from Times and…
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Notable Teachings From John Taylor
Tomorrow (November 1, 2008) marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Mormonism’s third prophet and president, John Taylor. Taylor became an LDS apostle in 1838, then became the President of the LDS Church in 1880. Having married 16 women (8 of them in the year 1846) and fathered 35 children, John Taylor died of…
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The Book of Mormon: True or False?
At the request of our Mormon friends here at Mormon Coffee, today’s topic for discussion is, The Book of Mormon: True or False? Before the discussion starts, however, I need to lay down some ground rules. It is understood by all here that Mormons ultimately believe the Book of Mormon is true due to personal…
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Isn’t this America?
Meridian Magazine, billing itself as “The Place Where Latter-day Saints Gather,” recently ran an article written by reader Michelle Worley. Titled “Standing Up for Prop 8: ‘I Hope You Know We’re Not Haters,’” the article recounts Ms. Worley’s experience standing at a busy intersection holding a sign in support of the California marriage amendment. Encountering…
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Mormons and Politics
New West Politics ran a story this week about the political race for Wyoming’s U.S. House seat. Two candidates are running neck-in-neck, but the Republican congressional candidate, Cynthia Lummis, hopes to add the Mormon vote to her support base. Mormons make up 10% of the voting Wyoming public. Ms. Lummis is a conservative life-long Missouri…
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A few teachings from the October 1900 LDS General Conference
The LDS General Conference in October 1900 focused a lot on the law of tithing. The repetition on that topic was due to the feeling among Church leadership that the second coming of Christ was near and the Saints needed to be prepared. “We should see to it that nothing is left undone by us,…
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The Powers That Be
A poll on the Mormon blog By Common Consent revealed 60% of participants believe Eternal Law is more powerful than God, prompting discussion on interpretations of God’s omnipotence and the nature of Eternal Law within LDS theology.
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Coffee: “A Lot of Up Side”
Another study has surfaced singing the praises of coffee. Not Mormon Coffee, of course (though surely happy results of such a study will come to light sometime in the future), but scientists have found there is a definite health benefit available to those who drink caffeine-laden coffee in moderation. An article in the Deseret News…
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Jesus Resurrects; Works Exalt
LDS author Alonzo L. Gaskill authored the 2008 book, Odds Are, You’re Going to be Exalted. On page 4 of that book Dr. Gaskill explains, “…it is a fallacy to say that Jesus saves us, but then our works exalt us—an idea I have heard expressed not a few times by members of the Church.…
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Leaving the Mormon Church
Last week Jeff Spector over at Mormon Matters wrote about an interesting phenomenon. In “Hedging Your Bets: Refusing to Leave the Church” Mr. Spector talked about inactive Mormons and the negative reactions from some of them when they are visited by their Home Teachers. Mr. Spector wrote: “I have been yelled at, cursed at, threatened…
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Gathering to Zion
In the early days of the LDS Church, converts all over the world were commanded to gather in one place with all other Latter-day Saints. The appointed gathering place moved from Missouri to Illinois and finally to Utah. According to Brigham Young, the purpose of the gathering was “…for the express purpose of purifying ourselves,…
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“A Christian Wouldn’t Do What You Do.”
I am often accused of being “unChristlike” because I take a vocal stand against Mormonism. I recognize heresy in Mormon teachings and stand against it for two reasons. One is the call in Scripture for followers of Christ to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The…